West Dorset District, Dorset County Council and the town Council will between them pay a levy of £15,000 if the BID gets a second term.

Single businesses will pay between £50 and £200.

West Dorset District Council Leader Robert Gould said: "The conduct of the election, and the process with which the BID proposer has to comply, is governed by national legislation. The eligibility criteria for a BID ballot and payment of the BID levy are set by the bid proposer not the district council. West Dorset District Council has eight votes because it has eight eligible properties within the proposed BID area and would be liable, if the ballot is successful, to pay a full levy on all of these properties."